Safe from burns and waterproof match holder

ABSTRACT

A waterproof safety match holder for self-igniting matches having the self-igniting match retained in individual hermetically and electronically sealed waterproof cells with a portion of the match stems protruding from the cells to cause ignition of a match in its cell when it is being withdrawn therefrom. All protruding match stems and pull out heads are covered with a relatively thin film of latex to fully waterproof the entire match and thereby providing safe use and preventing sparks when said match is withdrawn already ignited.

United States Patent [72] Inventor TiburcioCoria Lopez 86-35 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, N.Y. 11373 21 Appl.No. 803,483 221 Filed Feb. 28,1969 4s Patented Feb.9,1971

[54] SAFE FROM BURNS AND WATERPROOF MATCH HOLDER 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 206/34 [51] Int. Cl A24f 27/20 [50] Field of Search 206/34, 29,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,877 12/1918 Graham 206/29 1,351,241 8/1920 Graham... 206/34 1,961,078 5/1934 Payne 206/34 2,130,273 9/1938 Greenmam. 206/29 2,159,103 5/1939 Pullen 206/29 2,295,756 9/1942 Pullen 206/29 2,405,865 8/ 1946 Watkins 206/29 3,129,809 4/1964 Stemau 206/29 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,413 7/1912 Switzerland 206/34 Primary ExaminerWilliam T. DiXSOIll, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A waterproof safety match holder for self-igniting matches having the self-igniting match retained in individual hermetically and electronically sealed waterproof cells with a portion of the match stems protruding from the cells to cause ignition of a match in its cell when it is being withdrawn therefrom. All protruding match stems and pull out heads are covered with a relatively thin film of latex to fully waterproof the entire match and thereby providing safe use and preventing sparks when said match is withdrawn already ignited.

PATENIED FEB 9 I971 INVENTOR. TIBURC/O (0PM LOPEZ ATTORNEY SAFE FROM BURNS AND WATERPROOF MATCH HOLDER My invention relates to a safe and waterproof match holder, particularly to a holder for matches which are kept insulated and free from ignition when lighting one of the matches of the match holder and also free of damage by water and moisture by my hermetically sealed and waterproof structure. lts automatic striking safety construction provides for use in wet climates and under weather where atmospheric humidity prevails or even immune to bodys perspiration, which is very common in tropical countries.

Among the purposes and objects are to provide a holder and safety matches so combined that when igniting one of the matches of the holder, the rest of the matches contained in same holder remain invulnerable to the fire produced by the already ignited match, avoiding the total ignition of the rest of the matches, as it frequently occurs with the regular and usual book matches, even if the cover of same book matches has been already closed, as the sparks produced at the time of striking same matches very often reach the rest of the not yet ignited matches producing a small explosion which because of its instantaneous flammability leaves no time to avoid the burning of the users fingers, causing in some instances serious burns, which is an evident proof that the regular usual matches in book form leave much to be desired as far as safety is concerned. Also among the purposes and objects are to provide a match holder so combined that it floats on water remains totally dry and usable in steaming jungles, on shipboard, in the rain and will ignite automatically by merely pulling the match from the holder leaving the remaining matches dry and ready for use under any weather conditions.

An object is to provide a match holder which in size, shape and utility is an improvement over the usual book match and yet has the same space for advertising, is extremely flat which allows its packaging together with cigarettes and is safer and more convenient in addition to being waterproof.

Still another object is to provide a holder in which the matches are conveniently arranged each to be instantaneously and easily removed without opening and closing a flap.

An object is to provide a match and holder so constructed that the match is ignited by merely being withdrawn from the holder and the head of the match is prevented from flying thereby reducing fire hazard or preventing the burning of the user's clothes and even eventually getting a fraction of the flying burning head of the ignited match into the eyes of the user of the regular usual book matches, as ithas happened.

A further object is to provide a holder comprising a plurality of separate individual hermetically sealed compartments, one compartment for each match so that the removal of one or more matches does not afi'ect the remaining matches in the holder.

An object is to provide a plurality of cells, each cell having abrasive for igniting its respective match only and each cell and its match being sealed and waterproof from the exterior of the holder and waterproof from each other cell.

An object is to provide pressure ridges to press the abrasive against the match head while being withdrawn from the holder.

An object is to provide an abrasive lining in the outside cover of the match holder, to be used eventually if the user prefers to pull out the matches slowly and strike them in the usual form as is done with the regular book matches, but avoiding the total ignition of the rest of the matches as frequently happens with the regular usual paper book matches, in spite of the fact that its cover has been closed, complying with compulsory instructions printed in each and every match book, causing serious burns to the user's hands.

A further object is to provide a fake head on each match, which is formed by dipping the match sticks into a liquid plastic lacquer or sealing wax, thus providing means to facilitate the instant pulling of the match even in the dark and enabling to use the match for a longer burning period in view of the fact that the fingers holding the fake head will cover a smaller area of the match stick.

A further object is to provide each match holder with two perforations, one at each lower end of the match holder, to enable the user to place his match holders in suitable dispensers properly designed with vacuum cups to be firmly adhered anywhere the user desires and thus to have available for instant use a larger stock of self-igniting safe and waterproof matches.

l accomplish these and other objects by the construction herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings which form part of this my disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. I, is a top view of an actual size card previously treated with adhesive chemicals which will only seal under electronic process. Same card previously perforated.

FIG. 2, is a top view of an actual size card showing the striking compound already applied on same precisely in the illus trated areas only.

FIG. 3, is a top view of an actual size: card showing besides the perforations and striking compound applied, the embossed semispheric depressions already made in the card, whichare free of striking compound and which will receive and house only the phosphorous head of the matches.

FIG. 4, is a top view of an actual size of a match comb, which later will be inserted into the match holder through the perforations or apertures of the card.

FIG. 5, is a view of a match holder in an open position, receiving the match comb through the apertures or perforations.

FIG. 6, is a top view of a finished match holder showing partially the match sticks as only a portion of same remains outside the match holder. This FIG. also shows the formed fake heads to facilitate the pulling of the matches, the embossed semispheric receptacles which contain only the phosphoreous heads of the matches. Also in the lower portion of this FIG. is shown the lining of striking compound already applied to the match holder to ignite the matches by striking if so desired, after pulling them out slowly from the match holder.

FIG. 7, is an enlarged front elevation of the finished match holder with a portion broken away to show the interior.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and in the specifications.

I am aware that self'igniting matches and holders are not new. Self-ignited match folders and the conventional match .folders book matches are rendered useless in very humid,

damp and steamy places, more so if thrown into water at the beaches or even in contact with heavy perspiration. It is not of importance to describe automatic or self-igniting matches and devices except to compare my improvements which will be obvious to one studying this disclosure.

I have not attempted to show all possible modifications of my match holder but rather to describe, in detail, a preferred embodiment so that one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may more readily follow the construction and practice its use. Modifications may suggest themselves after a study of this my disclosure.

The preciseness of the detailed description and the preciseness of the drawings are not intended to limit the breadth and scope of my invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

In FIG. 7, I have shown an enlarged fragmentary view so that the thin material used will be more nearly in proportion. The first match on the left side of the match holder is shown at the time of being withdrawn. FIG. 7 a is the fake head of the match to facilitate its extraction from the match holder. FIG. 7-b is the match stick. FIG. 7-c is the phosphorous head of the match which is being striken against 7-h the lining of striking compound paint to ignite the match. FIG. 7-d is semispheric receptacle where the match head was housed. Notice that no striking compound is applied on this area that before igniting the match contains the phosphorous match head. FIG. 7-e is the lining of striking compound applied on the match holder cover, which can be used eventually if the user of the match holder wishes to pull out slowly the [match from the match holder and ignite it by striking the match against the lining of striking compound, just as is done in the regular usual match books. FlG. 7-f shows the broken line to disclose the inside of the match holder covering the area of the first match on the left side of the match holder. FIG. 7-g shows the two flaps of the match holder sealed together, thus housing hermetically a plurality of waterproof tubular cells, one each of which are provided with an abrasive lining 7-h all the way in the area where the match stick rests before striking the match and which will be ignited by friction produced against same abrasive lining when pulling out the match from its cell.

Each match is thus housed, for a substantial part of its length in its respective cell and has the remaining part 7-b extending out of the open end 7-i, each match having handle means 7-a on the exterior of the cell to help facilitate the user to better grip the match in pulling the match out of its cell and the flammable head 7-c of the match past the abrasive lining 7- h to ignite it.

Each of the plurality of cells is flattened at 7-j to produce a tightness that will originate a substantial friction to ignite the match when being pulled out from its cell, thus the ignition taking place inside the cell of each match avoiding in this way the flying of ignited head's fractions as it occurs sporadically in the regular usual book matches. Because of the ignition of the match taking place inside of its own cell, the match comes out of its cell totally ignited and free of flying sparks. However, if the user of the match holder wishes to strike the match in the regular usual form that has been done up to date all he has to do is to pull out the match of its cell slowly to avoid friction of same against the abrasive lining and then to strike the match in the abrasive lining painted in the outside cover of each match holder. This abrasive lining placed in the outside cover of every match holder has been precisely assigned for the purpose of striking the match in case same has not been ignited due to slowness in its extraction and therefore totally eliminating in this way the slightest possiblity of a total ignition of all of the matches, as it frequently occurs with the regular usual match books, which instant explosion leaves no time to its user to get rid of the book and therefore unavoidably suffers burns in his fingers.

All of the openings 7-i after the match holder is finished in its manufactured, are covered with an extremely thin film of latex, which is made by dipping the match holder in an upside down position, into a container of latex of certain density. This film is broken at the time of pulling the match out of its cell.

The waterproofing of the outside covers of the match holder is made by previously treating the board that the match holder is made with waterproof chemicals noninflammable and the hermetic sealing of the interior is obtained by applying to the boards a coating of polyethylene of a suitable density and this scaling is made electronically without using any heating means, thus making its manufacture totally safe and at high speed to obtain mass production.

The size and materials of the parts may vary to suit the particular use to which my match holder is adapted.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and a cover member having a row of apertures each cell having an open end engaging and held in place by each aperture of said row of apertures and flattened all the way at the edge of each side of each cell, and means securing said edges to produce an hermetically sealed cell to prevent moisture from entering said cells and to prevent sparks to go out of said cell, when the match is ignited, and a waterproof coating for sealing said cells and said cover member.

1 claim: 1. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells,

a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and a cover member having a row of apertures each cell having an open end engaging and held in place by each aperture of said row of apertures and flattened all the way at the edge of each side of each cell, and meanssecuring said edges to produce an hermetically sealed cell to prevent moisture from entering said cells and to prevent sparks to go out of said cell, when the match is ignited, and a waterproof coating for sealing said cells and said cover member.

2. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and a cover member having a row of apertures, each cell having an open end engaging and held in place by each aperture of said row of apertures and flattened all the way at the edge of each side of each cell, and means securing said edges to produce an hermetically sealed cell to prevent moisture from entering said cell and to prevent sparks to go out of said cell, when the match is ignited and a waterproof coating for sealing said matches, said cells and said cover member, said waterproof coating being transparent and said cover member having printing visible through said water proof coating.

3. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and ignition means within each cell for igniting the match automatically upon being withdrawn, a cover member and securing means for holding said plurality of cells in place and a polyethylene coating for sealing said plurality of cells hermetically andinsulating each of the cells to prevent moisture entering into said cells and to prevent sparks from going out of said cells when igniting the match. 

1. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and a cover member having a row of apertures each cell having an open end engaging and held in place by each aperture of said row of apertures and flattened all the way at the edge of each side of each cell, and means securing said edges to produce an hermetically sealed cell to prevent moisture from entering said cells and to prevent sparks to go out of said cell, when the match is ignited, and a waterproof coating for sealing said cells and said cover member.
 2. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and a cover member having a row of apertures, each cell having an open end engaging and held in place by each aperture of said row of apertures and flattened all the way at the edge of each side of each cell, and means securing said edges to produce an hermetically sealed cell to prevent moisture from entering said cell and to prevent sparks to go out of said cell, when the match is ignited and a waterproof coating for sealing said matches, said cells and said cover member, said waterproof coating being transparent and said cover member having printing visible through said water proof coating.
 3. A match holder, comprising a plurality of watertight cells, a match having a substantial part of its length housed in each of said cells, and ignition means within each cell for igniting the match automatically upon being withdrawn, a cover member and securing means for holding said plurality of cells in place and a polyethylene coating for sealing said plurality of cells hermetically and insulating each of the cells to prevent moisture entering into said cells and to prevent sparks from going out of said cells when igniting the match. 